Three finalists selected for president of Tennessee College of Applied Technology Murfreesboro; public forum set for Nov. 10

Three finalists have been selected for the next president of the Tennessee College of Applied Technology Murfreesboro, and a public forum with the candidates is set for Nov. 10 at the main campus in Murfreesboro.

The finalists are:

• Bryan D. Renfro, vice president of academic instruction at Paris Junior College in Paris, Texas. He holds a Ph.D. in higher education administration from Iowa State University, master of arts in anthropology from the University of Arkansas and a bachelor of arts in anthropology from the University of Tennessee.
• Joy Rich, assistant vice president for workforce development at Motlow State Community College in Tullahoma. She holds a doctor of education in education leadership from University of the Cumberlands, and a master of business education and a bachelor of science in marketing education, both from Middle Tennessee State University.
• Patrick Wade, vice president of the Tennessee College of Applied Technology Knoxville. He holds a master of science in management and leadership from Western Governors University and a bachelor of business administration in finance from Tennessee Technological University.

Their complete resumés are available for review on the Tennessee Board of Regents executive search webpage at https://www.tbr.edu/hr/executivesearches/president-tcat-murfreesboro.

EDITED NOV. 9, 2022: BRYAN D. RENFRO HAS WITHDRAWN HIS CANDIDACY FOR PRESIDENT OF TCAT MURFEESBORO. THE PUBLIC FORUMS AND CAMPUS INTERVIEWS FOR THE TWO REMAINING FINALISTS REMAIN AS SCHEDULED AT 10 A.M. AND 11 A.M. THURSDAY, NOV. 10.

Public forums and campus interviews are scheduled for the finalists on Nov. 10, with Renfro at 9 a.m. CT, Rich at 10 a.m. and Wade at 11 a.m. – all in Room 400 of the Allied Health Building at TCAT Murfreesboro’s main campus, 1313 Old Fort Parkway, Murfreesboro, TN 37129. To join the forums via Microsoft Teams, see below.

Following the public forums, TBR Chancellor Flora W. Tydings will conduct further interviews with the candidates, review feedback from the public and campus community, and recommend a single candidate to the Board of Regents, which will likely consider the chancellor’s recommendation at its Dec. 1 quarterly board meeting.

The next president will succeed Dr. Carol Puryear, who retired last month after more than 28 years of service to the TBR system, including two separate tenures as the college’s president and as vice chancellor at the system office. Dr. Jeff Sisk, executive director of the TBR Center for Workforce Development and former president of TCAT Jackson, is serving as interim president.

TCAT Murfreesboro offers students 14 separate career and technical education programs, at its campuses in Murfreesboro and Smyrna.

The forums will also be streamed via Microsoft Teams. To join on your computer or mobile app: 

Click here to join the meeting

Meeting ID: 251 643 796 042 
Passcode: wJyewE 

Or call in (audio only)

+1 629-401-2817,,407157151#   United States, Nashville 

Phone Conference ID: 407 157 151#